Abortion

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 26 January (WA 193) indicating that data on babies born alive following an abortion are not collected by the Department of Health, on what basis they state in their Written Answer on 19 December 2005 (WA 197) that "it is rare for a baby to be born alive following the termination of a pregnancy".

Lord Warner: The Government's understanding that it is rare for a baby to be born alive following a termination of pregnancy is based on the fact that we have been made aware of only a few cases where this has occurred and we have not been approached by any professional bodies expressing concern. We await the outcome of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health's investigation, which should provide better information on the current position.

Armed Forces: Combined Aircraft Carrier

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to follow up the Franco-British outline contract for the pre-construction stages of the combined aircraft carrier with further major defence equipment projects with France; and, if so, what specific projects will be involved.

Lord Drayson: The UK and France are partners in some 30 bilateral or multilateral co-operative equipment programmes. We both recognise the benefits that defence equipment co-operation can bring; this is specifically acknowledged in the UK's defence industrial strategy. We therefore meet regularly to consider potential new areas of interest.
	Although no further major defence equipment projects are currently planned, we are examining a number of promising technology areas—such as guided weapons enablers and missile technology—which may have the potential to become co-operative projects in due course. On 24 January we announced a potential joint project on technology for lightweight radars. This month will also see the first meeting of a new UK/France steering board designed to give added impetus to identifying, and taking forward, new bilateral defence technology co-operation.
	We will continue to be open to the possibilities of new co-operation with France (as with our other allies), and will engage in further major projects with France when it is in our mutual interests to do so.

Budget

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to consult finance ministry officials in France and Germany on the need for countermeasures in the United Kingdom, following the request by the European Commission that Britain should redress its current budget deficit from the present 3.4 per cent to below the agreed maximum of 3 per cent.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: In line with the treaty, the ECOFIN Council of EU Finance Ministers, as well as its preparatory committees, provides the forums for multilateral discussions between all EU member states on budgetary policy issues. Against this background, and on the basis of recommendations from the Commission, the council discussed and adopted on 24 January 2006 a decision under Article 104(6) of the treaty and a recommendation under Article 104(7).

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the likely impact on programmes for science delivery in biodiversity and freshwater ecology if the National Environment Research Council's proposals to reduce staff and to close four of the research establishments at the centre for Ecology and Hydrology are implemented.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government are fully committed to maintaining the quality of environmental science in the UK and provide funding to the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for this purpose. NERC is currently consulting widely with stakeholders on proposals on how best the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) can contribute on a sustainable basis to this.
	NERC funds research in biodiversity and freshwater ecology both in CEH and through blue-skies grants and in directed programmes. NERC would not expect its overall investment in this research area to be substantively altered by the proposed reshaping of CEH. CEH will continue to deliver its contractual commitments to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other government departments and agencies.

Children

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, as reported in the Daily Post on 28 December 2005, more than 230 unaccompanied children have been found on the streets of Liverpool; if so, over what period of time; where such children have been placed; whether some have subsequently disappeared; and, if so, how many.

Lord Adonis: I understand from Liverpool Council that the article in the Daily Post on 28 December 2005 is inaccurate. The council is not aware of widespread evidence of children being trafficked or exploited. The council further reports that its specialist social work staff are well aware of the risks that may be faced by such children. Any information which comes to the council's attention suggesting that an unaccompanied child or young person has been harmed or may be at risk of harm is taken seriously and acted on immediately.

Defence Industrial Strategy

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have adopted in their White Paper Defence Industrial Strategy all the recommendations made by the National Audit Office in the report Driving the Successful Delivery of Major Defence Projects; and, if not, what are their reasons for not doing so.

Lord Drayson: The National Audit Office (NAO) assessed that some of the defence projects it examined compared favourably with its "gold standard", and with a number at the forefront of good project control. We welcomed the recommendations of the report and have in place an action plan to implement them. That plan was developed prior to publication of Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), and three-quarters of the recommendations have already been implemented, with action ongoing against those outstanding. In the DIS, the Ministry of Defence commits to continue to drive toward the NAO "gold standard" and toward professional procurement practices in public and private sector organisations worldwide.

Disability: Centres for Independent Living

Lord Ashley of Stoke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the capacity of local centres for independent living should be increased, as recommended in the report Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People; and what measures they consider necessary to ensure the continued survival and development of these centres.

Lord Warner: We are considering how to take forward the recommendation in Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People about user-led organisations.

Disability: Third Sector Task Force

Lord Ashley of Stoke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to ensure the representation of disabled people on the third sector task force.

Lord Warner: A disabled person nominated by the Disability Rights Commission represents patients and the public on the third sector task force. Third-sector members of the task force also represent disabled people through the work of their organisations.

EU: Growth and Output

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What conclusions they have drawn from the recent remarks of Commission President José Barroso that the highest recent growth and output performances among European Union member states has come from high-tax countries such as Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Different countries favour different policy mixes reflecting, among other things, their national circumstances and preferences. The UK Government's approach to taxation balances the need to finance better quality public services, deliver fairness and promote sustainable development and economic activity while ensuring that the UK benefits from the advantages of being a lightly taxed economy. Indeed since 1997, average GDP growth in the UK, Sweden and Finland has been substantially higher than that of the EU15.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can be used to obtain information that has been declared to be confidential, as exempt information, under the Local Government Act 1972; and, if so, in what circumstances.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Local Government Act 1972 are separate access regimes. The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) gives a general right of access to information held by a public authority. The Local Government Act 1972 (LGA1972) gives greater public access to local authority meetings, reports and documents subject to specified confidentiality provisions, and imposes on local authorities duties to publish certain information.
	A request can be made under the FoIA for any information held by a public authority, including for that exempt under the LGA1972. Information may be withheld only under one of the exemptions within the FoIA.
	The exemptions to the requirement to make information available under the LGA1972 are not currently in complete alignment with the exemptions to the release of information in the FoIA. It is therefore possible that information exempt from publication under the LGA1972 must be released if requested under the FoIA.
	An order was laid before Parliament on 26 January to amend in England Schedule 12A to the LGA1972, which provides descriptions of information which is exempt for the purposes of Part VA (Access to Meetings and Documents of Certain Authorities, Committees and Sub-Committees) of the LGA1972. This order will come into force on 1 March.
	The amendments, which follow consultation with key stakeholders, will have the effect of simplifying the exemptions in the schedule, and harmonising them with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the list of exemptions contained in the FoIA.

Housing: Arm's-length Management Organisations

Lord Whitty: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What redress for failure of service, contractual commitment or consultation responsibilities is available to tenants or lessees in council-owned property managed by arm's-length management organisations outside the point of review of contract.

Baroness Andrews: If tenants or lessees are dissatisfied with any aspect of the service provided by an arm's-length management organisation (ALMO) they should take this up through the ALMO's formal complaints procedure. Ultimately, the local authority is responsible for the provision of the housing service and can terminate its management agreement with the ALMO if the ALMO's performance is unsatisfactory.

Local Government: Islington

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the reasons for the length of time (three and a half years) taken by the recent Standards Board for England case against five Liberal Democrat councillors in Islington (case references APE 0211, 0212, 0213, 0214 and 0215) between the events which were the subject of the complaint and the decision of the Adjudication Panel for England.

Baroness Andrews: The Standards Board for England is an independent body. Management of individual cases is entirely a matter for the board itself. I have asked the board's chairman to write to you directly in response to your Question, setting out the circumstances in which the investigation and determination of these cases took place, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library. I regret the delays in these cases, but I understand that there were special circumstances. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has agreed with the board the performance targets of completing 40 per cent of investigations within four months and 90 per cent within six months. The board is currently meeting its four-month target and is completing 82 per cent of investigations within six months.

Wildlife: Bird Imports

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are examining the impacts of the United States Wild Bird Conservation Act 1992 on the legal and illegal import of wild birds into that country; and, if so, whether there are any lessons for the United Kingdom from this legislation.

Lord Bach: We are in close contact with colleagues in the US Fish and Wildlife Service and have sought their views regarding the impact of the US Wild Bird Conservation Act 1992 on legal and illegal imports of wild birds. It is too early to say what lessons the United Kingdom might draw from this legislation but my officials will take this information into account in forthcoming round-table discussions with key stakeholders on this matter.

World War I: Pardons

Lord Brightman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce a Bill to pardon members of the British forces in World War I who were shot for alleged cowardice and similar breaches of duty.

Lord Drayson: The Government's position was reached after the detailed review whose findings were announced in 1998. This examined with great care and sympathy the issues and the cases of those executed. It recognised that the test for a pardon under the Royal prerogative sets a very high threshold and concluded that it would not be fair to put these cases to this test, just to see most and possibly all of them fail because we lack the required level of evidence. However, all these men are now recognised as victims of a terrible war and honoured among their fallen comrades, the stigma of their execution removed.